Single-Phase Arginine Acid Fluids for Controlled Carbonate Reactions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-phase retarded acid systems for carbonate reservoirs face challenges in balancing reactivity, leading to high viscosity, friction pressure, and corrosive flowback compositions, making them difficult to prepare and use effectively.
Innovation Solution
A single-phase aqueous fluid comprising strong acid molecules and arginine, with concentrations ranging from 7.5 wt % to 28 wt % and a molar ratio of arginine to acid from 1:100 to 1:5, is used to create a retarded acid system that reduces reactivity and corrosion, enhancing acid treatment in hydrocarbon formations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If emulsified acid is used to slow down reaction rate, then acid reactivity is improved, but viscosity and friction pressure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing emulsified acid with a single-phase acid system containing hydrophilic polymers and surfactants. This maintains the retarded acid functionality (controlled reaction rate) while eliminating the high viscosity and friction pressure associated with emulsions, achieving both improved reaction control and reduced flow resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hydrophilic polymers and surfactants as intermediary substances that modify the acid system's properties. These intermediaries enable the acid to maintain retarded reactivity without requiring an emulsion structure, thereby avoiding the viscosity and friction pressure problems while preserving the beneficial reaction rate control.
2Duration of action of moving object
If emulsified acid is used to extend reactivity, then acid delivery time is improved, but preparation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the phase structure parameter from two-phase emulsion to single-phase solution, fundamentally simplifying the preparation process. The single-phase system can be prepared by simple mixing of acid, hydrophilic polymer, and surfactant, eliminating the complex emulsion preparation steps while maintaining extended reactivity duration through the chemical action of the polymer and surfactant.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophilic polymers and surfactants serve as intermediaries that provide the acid retardation mechanism without requiring emulsion formation. This intermediary approach extends acid reactivity duration through chemical interaction rather than physical emulsion structure, greatly simplifying preparation while achieving the desired prolonged acid action.
3Ease of manufacture
If single-phase acid systems are used to avoid emulsion challenges, then ease of preparation is improved, but reactivity control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hydrophilic polymers and surfactants as intermediary substances within the single-phase acid system. These intermediaries provide the reactivity control mechanism by interacting with the acid, allowing the simple single-phase preparation to achieve the complex function of controlled acid release and extended reactivity that would otherwise require emulsion systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the single-phase system by adding specific concentrations of hydrophilic polymers and surfactants. This parameter change enables the simple single-phase mixture to achieve controlled reactivity, transforming an uncontrollable fast-reacting acid into a retarded acid system with extended action duration.
4Productivity
If conventional acid treatment is used to create wormholes, then formation penetration is achieved, but equipment corrosion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hydrophilic polymers and surfactants as intermediary substances that modify the acid's interaction with both formation and equipment. These intermediaries enable effective wormhole formation and penetration by controlling acid distribution and reaction rate, while simultaneously reducing the corrosiveness of the flowback composition through the protective and buffering action of the polymer-surfactant system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves reduced reactivity and corrosion, allowing for effective acid treatment with less corrosive flowback compositions and efficient penetration of hydrocarbon formations, reducing the volume of acid needed to create wormholes.
Implementation Method 1
the reaction between an acid and the minerals calcite (CaCO3) and dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] to enhance the flow properties of the rock. The reaction removes solid material from the rock structure into solution
Implementation Method 2
blending one or more strong acid molecules with arginine in an aqueous solution yields an acid system with reduced reactivity rate
Implementation Method 3
The reaction removes solid material from the rock structure into solution, creating openings in the rock formation for fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
Treatment of hydrocarbon formations using single-phase aqueous acid blends that contain arginine is described herein. The single-phase aqueous fluid includes one or more strong acid molecules and arginine in water, wherein the one or more strong acid molecules are present in a concentration range of 7.5 wt % to 28 wt %, based on the weight of the aqueous fluid, and arginine is present in a molar ratio of arginine to the one or more strong acid molecules that is from 1:100 to 1:5.